Looking for delicious summer side dishes? We’ve got you covered! Check out the best summer side dishes to have you ready in a pinch for any summer cookout. 

SUMMMMMMERRRRRR!!!!

Every time I think of summer now, I can’t help but sing the Olaf song from Frozen. And secretly, sometimes wish I was in winter.  It’s funny because summer was my favorite season growing up.  I mean, no school, no worries, lots of outside time, pools, etc. What kids isn’t going to love that?  Now however, it means more sweating as I chase my kids around in the heat, bugs seem to annoy me way more as an adult, and as a homeowner, more work. Regardless, I do find joy in watching my children love summer, just as much as I remember loving it.

Whether you like the warmer weather or not, you likely are going to attend a cookout or twelve during summer. Typically, unless you are hosting, you are going to be responsible to bring some sort of side dish. Or maybe you are just looking for easy side dishes for your own dinner.  Whatever the reason, we have some of the best summer side dishes from the internet all combined for you in one awesome post.

So, what’s your favorite summer side dishes? For me, I always want corn on the cob. Other favorite summer side dishes would have to be a great pasta salad, baked beans, fruit salad, potato salad, and sometimes just a big chunk of watermelon.

Summer Side Dishes

Now, which dish are you going to go make first? We hope you love this collection of summer side dishes for cookout time; however, if you feel like we missed an amazing dish, feel free to let us know in the comments so we can add it! Enjoy the summer!

This Spicy Garlic Grilled Corn on the Cob is the perfect vegetable side dish for your next get together. Cooking corn in the husk on the grill will be your new favorite thing! 

Grilled corn on the cob just screams summer. We love going down to the local farm and grabbing fresh corn on cob throughout the summer season and we’re so sad when it ends. We all, especially our youngest, just love corn on the cob. I remember growing up and my mom would literally drench her corn in melted butter and sprinkle an absurd amount of salt all over one ear.  I used to laugh that she was eating corn soup and the butter was her broth. This recipe is much healthier, but every time I eat corn on the cob, I think about my mom.

How to Grill Corn in Husks

There’s so many ways to cook corn on the cob, but cooking corn in the husk on the grill is one of my favorites. First, soak the corn in water.  After that, carefully pull back the husk to about half an inch from the bottom. Then, remove the corn silks. Next, spread butter and seasoning mix onto the corn. Carefully pull the husks back up. Grill at approximately 400 degrees for 20 minutes or until fork tender, turning every 5 minutes.

How long do you have to soak corn before grilling?

When cooking corn on the cob on the grill, you should soak it in water for 30-60 minutes beforehand. Soaking in water softens the husks, making them easier to work with and get down as far as possible without breaking off.  Soaking corn also allows for more moisture to be retained so the corn doesn’t burn on the grill.

How long do you grill corn?

Grilling corn on the cob is easy peasy! Start by preheating the grill to 400 degrees.  Then, you want to place your corn on the cob in the husk on the grill for 20 minutes, rotating every 5 minutes. This will ensure perfectly cooked corn on the cob. After the 20 minutes, you can slightly peel back the husk and test with a fork. The corn kernels should be soft and easily pierced with a fork.

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Spicy Garlic Grilled Corn on the Cob in Husk

Prep Time

35 mins

Cook Time

20 mins

Total Time

55 mins

 

This Spicy Garlic Grilled Corn on the Cob is the perfect vegetable side dish for your next get together. Cooking corn in the husk on the grill will be your new favorite thing! 

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: side dish, vegetable dish

Servings: 6 people

Calories: 188 kcal

Author: Larisha Campbell

Ingredients

• 6 ears corn on the cob
• 6 tbsp unsalted butter (use vegan butter if needed)
• 3 tsp chili powder, divided
• 3 tsp garlic powder, divided

Instructions

1. Soak corn in husk for 30-60 minutes. 

2. Heat grill to 400 degrees.
   

3. Peal back the corn husks without removing them and then remove all the corn silk.

4. Liberally rub 1 tbsp of butter over each ear of corn. 

5. Then sprinkle 1/2 tsp chili powder and 1/2 tsp garlic powder over each ear. 

6. Pull husks back up and over the ear of corn. 

7. Place on grill and cook for 20 minutes, rotating every 5 minutes. Corn should be tender when pierced with a fork.

Recipe Notes

*Nutritional facts are just estimates. Please utilize your own brand nutritional values to double check against our estimates. 

Nutrition Facts

Spicy Garlic Grilled Corn on the Cob in Husk

Amount Per Serving (1 ear of corn)

Calories 188 Calories from Fat 108

% Daily Value*

Fat 12g18%

Saturated Fat 7g44%

Cholesterol 30mg10%

Sodium 38mg2%

Potassium 287mg8%

Carbohydrates 18g6%

Fiber 2g8%

Sugar 5g6%

Protein 3g6%

Vitamin A 925IU19%

Vitamin C 6.1mg7%

Calcium 10mg1%

Iron 0.8mg4%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

**This post was original published on 9/9/2014. Images to the original post are below. 

This easy but delicious Lemon Butter Green Beans recipe will be the perfect side dish for your next meal! Try this vegetable side dish with your next meal! 

Funny story. When I was little, I wouldn’t eat green beans.  I went over to a friend’s house for dinner and they were serving green beans. All the kids had ketchup to dip their green beans in and when I said I didn’t like them, my friend’s mom asked if I would try it with ketchup.  I was a kid, so I’d try anything with ketchup.  I actually preferred them that way and from them on I dipped my green beans in ketchup. It was the only way I would eat them. It would be well into my 20s before I tried green beans other ways, let alone fresh green beans. Luckily, I came to my senses.

These lemon butter green beans are so easy and delicious, you’ll wonder why you’ve never tried them before.  And, if somehow, you were like me and scared to try green beans, I’d encourage you to try this recipe before giving them up altogether.

Whether you are looking for a side dish for dinner or an easy potluck side dish recipe, going to a cookout, barbecue or party, this easy vegetable side dish is absolutely one you want to try. You can easily adjust it for a crowd.

How to Make Lemon Butter Green Beans

First, you want to start by rinsing your fresh green beans. Then, trim the ends. Next, you are going to melt butter in a skillet and then throw in your beans.  Add in some lemon juice and lemon zest, as well as salt and pepper. Cook for approximately 8 minutes over medium heat and then they are ready.  It’s that easy to make the perfect vegetable side dish.  This leaves the beans with a little crunch, but you can easily let them cook for a little longer if you prefer to have them softer.

Delicious Entrees to Prepare with Lemon Butter Green Beans

• Easy Salmon Burgers
• Broccoli and Cheese Stuffed Chicken 
• Lemon Herb Butter Salmon 
• Grilled Blackened Tuna Steak
• Honey Orange Glazed Pork 
• One Pan Honey Garlic Chicken and Rice
• Brown Butter Shrimp

Ready to make these delicious Lemon Butter Green Beans? Here ya go!

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Lemon Butter Green Beans recipe

Prep Time

5 mins

Cook Time

8 mins

Total Time

13 mins

 

This easy but delicious Lemon Butter Green Beans recipe will be the perfect side dish for your next meal! Try this vegetable side dish with your next meal! 

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: side dish, vegetable dish

Servings: 4 people

Calories: 119 kcal

Author: Larisha Campbell

Ingredients

• 1 lb fresh green beans, trimmed and washed
• 3 tbsp unsalted butter (use vegan butter if vegan or dairy free)
• 1 lemon
• salt and pepper

Instructions

1. In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. 

2. Put green beans into melted butter and saute for 4 minutes, stirring occasionally. 

3. Add zest from half the lemon and juice from all the lemon into the skillet. 

4. Add salt and pepper until desired taste. 

5. Stir to combine and cook for another 4 minutes.* 

6. Remove from heat and serve. 

Recipe Notes

*Cooking beans for 8 minutes will yield a slightly crunchy texture.  For softer beans, cook for a few more minutes until desired texture achieved. 

**Nutritional facts are just estimates. Please utilize your own brand nutritional values to double check against our estimates. 

Nutrition Facts

Lemon Butter Green Beans recipe

Amount Per Serving (0.4 lb)

Calories 119 Calories from Fat 72

% Daily Value*

Fat 8g12%

Saturated Fat 5g31%

Cholesterol 22mg7%

Sodium 8mg0%

Potassium 276mg8%

Carbohydrates 10g3%

Fiber 3g13%

Sugar 4g4%

Protein 2g4%

Vitamin A 1050IU21%

Vitamin C 28.1mg34%

Calcium 52mg5%

Iron 1.3mg7%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

This easy and delicious Cucumber and Tomato Salad is the perfect summer side dish! Ready to go in just five minutes, it can be made in a time crunch for the perfect summer BBQ side! 

When I was little, summer time was the best one. For starters, it meant no school and what kid isn’t excited about that.  Secondly, it meant warm weather, water fun, and trips. Again, what kid doesn’t love that. But, I also love that it meant fresh garden veggies.  I loved not only helping grow our garden, but being able to walk outside and take a big bite out of a freshly ripe red tomato straight from the garden.

A staple in our home was a cucumber and tomato salad during the summer. It was cheap and easy to make, especially when the veggies come from your garden. My mom made hers with mayo and vinegar. I loved it. Truthfully, I still do.  However, I’m trying to not only eat better, but some of my family aren’t big mayo fans.  It was in college that a local pizza spot had cucumber, tomato, onion salad as one of their side dishes. At the time, I wasn’t a huge fan of raw onions, but I tried it when my sister got it and I love it. This 4 ingredient cucumber and tomato salad is similar to that college recipe.

How to Make Cucumber and Tomato Salad

This insanely cucumber tomato salad recipe needs just 4 main ingredients. You start by halving and slicing one large cucumber. Then, largely dice up close to a pound of tomatoes. Next, slice up half of a red onion. Throw it all in a bowl with 1/4 cup of balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper. Toss together and done! Making cucumber tomato red onion salad is literally that easy! You can serve immediately or let it sit for a few hours to really merry the flavors together.

Main dishes to serve with Cucumber and Tomato Salad

So you’ve settled on making this cucumber tomato salad recipe for your next get-together, family dinner, or BBQ.  Congrats, you’ve picked one of the easiest summer side dishes! But maybe you’re debating on what main dish to serve!  Here’s five great ideas!

• Grilled Fish Tacos
• Honey Mustard BBQ Bacon Wrapped Pork Chops
• Chimichurri Steak 
• Grilled Shrimp Kabobs
• Chili Lime Chicken 
• Greek Turkey Burgers
• Yogurt Lemon & Mint Grilled Chicken 
• Black Bean Burger recipe (vegan/vegetarian)

Ready to make this tomato cucumber and onion salad? Here’s the easy recipe!

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Cucumber and Tomato Salad

Prep Time

5 mins

Total Time

5 mins

 

This easy and delicious Cucumber and Tomato Salad is the perfect summer side dish! Ready to go in just five minutes, it can be made in a time crunch for the perfect summer BBQ side! 

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: garden recipes, side dish, summer recipe, tomato cucumber onion salad, tomato cucumber salad

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 99 kcal

Author: Larisha Campbell

Ingredients

• 1 large cucumber
• 3/4 lb tomatoes
• 1/2 red onion
• 1/4 cup balsamic vinaigrette dressing
• salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Remove skin and half the cucumber lengthwise. Cut each half into roughly 1/2 inch slices. 

2. Dice tomatoes. 

3. Cut red onion into slices then each slice into quarters.  Separate into pieces. 

4. In a bowl, combine cucumbers, tomatoes, and onions. 

5. Add balsamic vinaigrette dressing. 

6. Add salt and pepper to taste. 

7. Toss well to combine. 

8. Serve immediately or refrigerate and serve within 24 hours. 

Recipe Notes

**Nutritional facts are just estimates. Please utilize your own brand nutritional values to double check against our estimates. 

*Added Salt is not included in nutritional facts

Nutrition Facts

Cucumber and Tomato Salad

Amount Per Serving (4 servings)

Calories 99 Calories from Fat 72

% Daily Value*

Fat 8g12%

Saturated Fat 1g6%

Sodium 6mg0%

Potassium 323mg9%

Carbohydrates 6g2%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 4g4%

Protein 1g2%

Vitamin A 765IU15%

Vitamin C 15.1mg18%

Calcium 22mg2%

Iron 0.4mg2%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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